274 IN THE VISION OF GOD not help chuckling within himself: "Ram, you are a downright joker.1' The fire was lit, and he burnt all the firewood he could scramble together in the dark. Morning" dawned. Ramdas walked out of the cave. The morning light presented to him a most bewitching scene. The river was flowing at a distance of about twenty yards from the cave. A number of huge rocks were scattered over the bank of the river. He got a perch upon one of these rocks to view the enchanting scene before him. From between a chain of tall, heaven-kissing mountains the glistening waters of the Ganges were gushing down past the caves. The mountains were clothed with dense vegetation and it looked as if a multi-coloured carpet was spread over them. Orange-hued clouds were slowly moving in the sky, on a back-ground of pure blue. Stillness, coolness and grey mist pervaded the whole atmosphere. Ramdas' soul thrilled with inexpressible delight. For a while, all account of time, place and circumstance was lost. No wonder, Yasishta selected this spot for his ashram. To breathe that air is meditation itself. Your entire being remains merged in the infinite existence of God's own being. You are simply intoxicated with eternal peace and joy. Except going up to the river twice or thrice a day for drinks, Ramdaa spent all his time on the rock. As night was throwing her dark mantle on the scene, he returned to his cave. For the first night in the cave he had some sensation of cold, though he could endure it. During the subsequent nights he waa entirely free from its effects. As usual, the second night also passed in a half-wakeful and blissful state. In the morning, again, he was found on the rock. Wbau the sun had risen high, up in the heavena* ho observed a hill-man standing before him. He questioned: "Is it true that you are bent upon stajpaag yonjjgelf to dearth ?" Bamdaa had no> reply to give. He only smiled. The man